Warbird Information Exchange

The AD-7 was the final production version of the Skyraider. It differed from the AD-6 in having an R-3350-26WB engine instead of a R-3350-26WA. It also had a strengthened undercarriage, more robust engine mountings, and stronger wing outer panels. Otherwise, it was much the same as the AD-6 which preceded it.

72 AD-7s were built, the last one leaving the production line on February 18, 1957. This brought Skyraider production to an end. A total of 3180 Skyraiders of all versions had been built. Two further batches of 84 AD-7 aircraft each were cancelled.

In September of 1962, surviving AD-7s were redesignated A-1J.

Specification of Douglas AD-7 Skyraider

Engine: One Wright R-3350-26WB Duplex Cyclone 18-cylinder air-cooled radial engine rated at 2700 hp for takeoff and 2100 hp at 14,000 feet. Performance: Maximum speed 343 mph at 20,000 feet, 316 mph at sea level. 195 mph cruising speed, initial climb rate 3230 ft/min, Service ceiling 30,650 feet, Combat range 1300 nautical miles with 2000 lbs of bombs, 12 HVAR and 2 150 gallon drop tanks. Weights: 12,100 pounds empty, 22,800 pounds normal loaded, 25,000 pounds maximum. Dimensions: Wingspan 50 feet 0 1/4 inches, length 39 feet 3 inches, height 15 feet 8 inches, wing area 400.33 square feet. Armament: Four 20-mm cannon in the wing.

Serial Numbers of Douglas AD-7 Skyraider

142010/142081 Douglas AD-7 Skyraider

http://www.joebaugher.com/usattack/newa1_21.html




Final AD-7 built at Douglas Aircraft, 1957


Last AD-7 Skyraider manufactured by Douglas Aircraft. Pilot LT Fowlerr of Attack Squadron Two Hundred Fifteen (VA-215).

_________________
“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

Missed this the first time around, thanks Mark!

Ken

_________________
"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."

Mucho welcome Ken, I was surprised you missed this one as well. I was looking for your expert Skyraider feedback as usual.

M

_________________
“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

The Registry lists only one survivor, 142072 on display in Thailand - are there any others?

_________________

All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

A-1J 142072 was damaged 12/27/68 and used as a static at NKP until its move to the museum in Bangkok. It is the only known surviving J model.

Ken

_________________
"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."

I've always wondered. What does the inside of the Skyraider look like? looks like there is space for several people in that fuselage!

_________________
Magister Aviation
It's all in my book

There is. The -3N and -4N versions had two radar operators in the rear fuselage.

And then of course there was the -5 version, which could carry up to 10 people, if eight of them were VERY good friends....

To add to Snake 45's post, here are a few shots from some flight manuals:

This one will work for the single seat version of the AD-4 and the AD-6 and AD-7. The page is from the Natops A-1J (AD-7) Flight Manual



This one is from the AD-4N multi-seat All Weather attack version. You can see the two extra crew mwmbers in the rear fuselage



The AD-3W and AD-4W Radar versions had a somewhat different pilot's canopy due to the extra avionics and cooling fans behind it







And,as Snake also mentioned, the AD-5 was redesigned as a muli-place airplane with a slightly wider fuselage among other changes

This is the AD-5N All Weather attack version



And, finally, the AD-5W Radar version



The full page pictures give a lot of information, but are hard to see the interiors, so here are cropped versions

The AD-4 through AD-7 Single Seaters



The AD-4N with extra crew members



The AD-5N



The AD-5W

Where were the Skyraiders built?

Wiki says El Segundo.

Andy

Thanks for those images!

_________________
Magister Aviation
It's all in my book

Thanks for the images Mark, and thanks Larry for the manual pages. The SPAD is one of my favorite Vietnam era planes.

_________________
Scott Rose
Editor-In-Chief/Webmaster
Warbirds Resource Group - Warbird Information Exchange - Warbird Registry

Be civil, be polite, be nice.... or be elsewhere.
-------------------------------------------------------
This site is brought to you with the support of members like you. If you find this site to be of value to you,
consider supporting this forum and the Warbirds Resource Group with a VOLUNTARY subscription
For as little as $2/month you can help ($2 x 12 = $24/year, less than most magazine subscriptions)
So If you like it here, and want to see it grow, consider helping out.



Thanks to everyone who has so generously supported the site. We really do appreciate it.

Follow us on Twitter! @WIXHQ